Bottle Fed Babies
Birth-week 3: (Feedings in 24 hours)
From the day a baby is born they will be increasing their feeds very quickly over the first few weeks. With a bottle you can see these changes through their actual amount. After day 5 you will want to aim for 16-18 ounces in the full 24-hour period. This will require a lot of feeds with high frequency. It is not realistic to wait 3-4 ours for a feed when they are this young. There is no real floor time at this age and the activity can be done on your chest. Lay your baby on your chest or tummy and talk to them. Your baby will try hard to lift their head to see you.
| Age | Day 1-2 | Day3-6 | Day7-14 | Day15-21 |
| Feeds | 5ml-7ml per feed | 22ml-27ml | 45ml-60ml(1.5-2 oz) | 90ml-120ml( 3-4 oz) |
| Frequency of feeds | Every 1-2 hours
(10-12 Feeds) |
Every 2 hours
(10-12 Feeds) |
Every 2 hours
(10-12 Feeds) |
Every 2 hours
(10-12 Feeds) |
| Activity | No floor time | No floor time | No floor time | No floor time |
| Breast-sleeping | 20-23 Hours | 20-22 Hours | 18-20 Hours | 16-20 Hours |
*Breast-sleeping: A term used by Dr. Mckenna as a sleep style of which a baby is sleeping at the breast and eating. Which is often the type of sleep a baby does in the first few weeks. With bottle feeding it is ideal to also feed your baby in a breastfeeding position and switch side to side.
30ml=1oz
Week 3-8:
6am Feed (2-4oz)
8am Feed (2-4oz)
10am Feed (2-4oz)
12 pm Feed (2-4oz)
2pm Feed (2-4oz)
4pm Feed (2-4oz)
6pm Feed (2-4oz)
8pm Feed (2-4oz)
10pm Feed (2-4oz)
1 am Feed (2-4oz)
4am Feed (2-4oz)
- Floor activity will be ideal a few times a day. Try back floor time and tummy floor time 5-10 minutes at a time
- Naps will be 20-60 minutes at a time and will happen 5-7 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 24-25 ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf)
- The feeds will range from 2-4 oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
Week 8 to 4months: Sleep training at this age is weight dependent.
For an 8 pound baby:
6am Feed (2-4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
8am Feed (2-4oz)
10am Feed (2-4oz)
12 pm Feed (2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
2pm Feed (2-4oz)
4pm Feed (2-4oz)
6pm Feed (2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space in order to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed (2-4oz) Bedtime. This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
12pm Feed (2-4oz)
3 am Feed (2-4oz)
- Floor activity will be ideal a multiple time a day of 10 minutes to 1 hours a day.
- Naps will be 20-60 minutes at a time and will happen 4-6 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 24-28 ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf)
- The feeds will range from 2-4oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
- There is a possibility your baby will eat every 2 hours instead of 3 hours once their metabolism has been triggered. For example: 2am Feed (2-4 oz.) and 4am Feed (2.4 oz.)
For a 10 pound baby:
6am Feed (2-4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
8am Feed (2-4oz)
10am Feed (2-4oz)
12 pm Feed (2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
2pm Feed (2-4oz)
4pm Feed (2-4oz)
6pm Feed (2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space in order to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed (2-4oz) Bedtime. This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
2am Feed (2-4oz)
4am Feed (2-4oz)
- Floor activity will be ideal a multiple time a day of 10 minutes to 1 hours a day.
- Naps will be 20-60 minutes at a time and will happen 4-6 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 24-28 ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf)
- The feeds will range from 2-4oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
- Make sure to keep the 4am and 6am feed. It is important not to skip these because 6am must remain the beginning if your day and the baby cannot go from 2am to 6am without a feed.
For a 12-pound baby:
6am Feed (2-4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
8am Feed (2-4oz)
10am Feed(2-4oz)
12 pm Feed(2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
2pm Feed(2-4oz)
4pm Feed(2-4oz)
6pm Feed(2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed(2-4oz) Bedtime, This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
4am Feed (4 oz.)
- Floor activity will be ideal a multiple time a day with 6+ hours a day.
- Naps will be 30 minutes – 1.5 hours at a time and will happen 4-3 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 24-28 ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf) for babies under 4 months old. Babies over 4 months old will need 28-32 ounces.
For a 15-pound baby:
6am Feed (2-4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
8am Feed (2-4oz)
10am Feed(2-4oz)
12 pm Feed(2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
2pm Feed(2-4oz)
4pm Feed(2-4oz)
6pm Feed(2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed(2-4oz) Bedtime. This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
4am Feed (2oz) this feed you will reduce to 2 ounces to pull more easily with sleep support. You will give the 2 oz as a transition period for 3-5 nights and then will pull the feed completely.
- Floor activity will be ideal a multiple time a day with 6+ hours a day.
- Naps will be 30 minutes – 1.5 hours at a time and will happen 4-3 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 26-32ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf) these amount can increase for each baby based on their weight.
- The feeds will range from 2-4oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
6-8 months (based off of a 10 hour schedule of 8pm-6am)
6am Feed(4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
9am Feed (4oz)
12 pm Feed(2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
2pm Feed(2-4oz)
4pm Feed(2-4oz)
5:30 Dinner, introduce a family style dinner to teach food and etiquette.
6pm Feed(2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed(2-4oz) Bedtime. This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
4am Feed(2-4oz) this feed you will reduce to 2 ounces to pull more easily with sleep support.
- Floor activity will be ideal a multiple time a day with 6+ hours a day.
- Naps will be 60 minutes – 2.5 hours at a time and will happen 2-3 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 28-36ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf) these amount can increase for each baby based on their weight. With an additional 150+ calories from solids per day.
- The feeds will range from 2-6oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
- I love a family style dinner but you will need to offer a solid food 4-5 times a day as long as milk still comes first
8-10 months (based off of a 10-hour schedule of 8pm-6am)
6am Feed(4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
Solid- Breakfast
9am Feed (4oz)
Solid-Snack
12 pm Feed(2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
Solid-lunch
2pm Feed(4oz)
Solid- Snack
4pm Feed(4oz)
5:30 Dinner, introduce a family style dinner to teach food and etiquette.
6pm Feed(2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed(4+oz) Bedtime. This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
- Floor activity will be ideal a multiple time a day with 6+ hours a day.
- Naps will be 60 minutes – 2.5 hours at a time and will happen 2-3 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 28-36ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf) these amount can increase for each baby based on their weight. With an additional 150+ calories from solids per day.
- The feeds will range from 2-6oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
- I love a family style dinner but you will need to offer a solid food 4-5 times a day as long as milk still comes first.
1 year-18 months (based off of a 10-hour schedule of 8pm-6am)
6am Feed (4oz) Start your day. Morning time will be when you leave the sleep space/nursery. You can cuddle in the family bed or just start your day with diaper, clothes change, conversation, and stimulation. Just leaving the nursery is enough of an environmental change to know it’s not night time anymore.
Solid- Breakfast
9am Feed (4oz)
Solid-snack
12 pm Feed(2-4oz) This will ideally be followed by a nap in the crib
Solid-lunch
2pm Feed(4oz)
Solid-Snack
4pm Feed(2-4oz)
5:30 Dinner, introduce a family style dinner to teach food and etiquette.
6pm Feed(2-4oz) small cat nap to help support evening fussiness. Don’t do this nap in the sleep space to avoid going into the full night sleep.
8pm Feed(2-4oz) Bedtime. This will be a routine of 30-45 minutes of an easily repeatable routine. The feeds, diaper change, pj’s, and song/book will be in the nursery with a calm relaxing beginning to the night helping the transition to night sleep.
- Floor activity will be all day.
- Naps will be 60 minutes – 2.5 hours at a time and will happen 1-2 times a day
- Total ounces will need to be 16-28 ounces with formula at 20 cal/oz (the normal formula on the shelf) these amounts can increase for each baby based on their weight. With additional calories from solids per day.
- The feeds will range from 2-6oz at each feed. Do not expect your baby to eat the exact same amount at each feed.
- I love a family style dinner but you will need to offer a solid food 4-5 times a day as long as milk still comes first.
